Can-soldering machine.



G. W. SLEEPER.

CAN SOLDEBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1906.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. W. SLEEPERL CAN SOEDERIKG MAGEINE.

APPLIUATIQILHEED Norm, 1966.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

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I Inve'nlqr; Charlzs Wfilmpzr UNITED STATES PATENT. cl rion,

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Specification of. Letters-Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application filed November 10, 1906. Serial No. 342,858.

a part hereof.

My invention relates to can soldering ma. chines of that class or type in which a can bottom is: soldered to a flanged can body, the flanges of which have been previously coated with solder, by placing the can body and bottom in position and then causing them to move over a heated; plate, whereby the solder ismelted and thepartsnnited; and the. objects of my. invention are to provide. in such a machine an improved chain for moving the cansac'ross theheated plate; to? provide an improved heating arrangement for the heated plate; to provide improved means for holding the can body and bottom' together with a yielding pressure while the can is moving across the heated plate and until the soldering operation is completed; and to provide such furtherfeatnresof construction and combinations of elements as are hereinafter described. I

With these objects in View, my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in-the;accompanying claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, some of the parts howeverbeing shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one section of the machine; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showingrnore clearly the an rangement of the weights for pressing the cans upon the heated plate; Fig. 4. is a cross section taken upon the line of Fig- 3;

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing thechain for moving the cansacross the heated plate, and showing also the weights for pressing the cans into contact with the heated plate; Figs; 6 and 7 are further enlarged views showing the manner in which the can is engaged by the links.

Referring to the drawings-1 represents. the table. of. the machine, which table is made up of a heating section 2 and a cooling. section 3. The upper surface 4. of'the. heating;

a heated plate.

Within. the heatingsection 2 is a flu'e 5.

and at one end of said flue suitable heating meansare provided for heating the late 4,

section 2 will. be hereinafter referred to as;

which means are shown by way of ililstration as a gas burner. 6. The other end of said fluecommunicates with 'a conduit 7 through which the products of combustion escape after heating the plate 4:. It-lwill. be obvious that the gases traversing the flue. will he at their highest temperature at the end thereof adjacent the burner 6, and that;

they will be coolest adjacent the flue 7; from it follows that the temperature of the plate a will be considerably higher at its end adia'cent thehnrner' 6. than at its end adiacentthe fine 7. It therefore followsthat plate.- by means. hereinafter disclosed, and. in a direction from right tolet't seme in Fig. 1, Wlll first comeinto contactwitlr.

solder willbe gradually heated and melted as the. canseare moved to-hotter portions of saidiplate.

The cooling section 3 of the table vided with suitable maintaining a flow o as shown at 8, 8.

The upper surface of the table 1 is pro,- vided with a series of grooves shown at 9 extending longitudinally thereof, fo'ur similar grooves beingshown in the drawing;

10 is a member referredto hereinafter as a chain, and comprising a series of sections, each section composed of a lurality oflinks 11 and 12 difi'ering somew hat in structure, the several sections being flexibly connected by rods 13 passing through holes 1; in the lie propipe connections for water therethrough adapted to traverse the table 1 and move 7 cans to be soldered acrom the heated plate and through the machine. The links H and 12 oi the chain 16 project intothe eves. S as the chain passes over the table if, and portion of the inner links 12 which wonli j project above the snrface ef'the table or heated plate is cut away as shown in Fig. 6, thereby forming shoulders as shown at 15; while the greater part of the upwardly pro retained as shown in Fig.7.

Figs; 6 and Y Show at. 16 a can in the" rash tion it occupies with reference to. the hairs cans. to. be soldered when moved across said the coolest portion oi said plate; and the links 11 and12 into an endless memberjecting portion or thefontside links 11' is I lit! ' of the heated plate as it is forced forward the weights.

by the shoulders 15 of said links, while theportions of the links 11' which are not cut away will keep the can from moving side-.

wise or slipping from the machine.

A small portion of the 11 is shown cut away at 17 in the particular machine illustrated to enable the machine to operate upon cans, the cover 18 of which has a projection 19 so that the can maybe opened by a key, but such opening is unnecessary when the machine is to operate upon other types of cans. Y a I The elements designated as 21 collectively constitute a guiding member supported in a fixed position above the table 1 of the machine, the purposeof which is to engage a series of weights 22 and maintain them in an upright position; The said weights are each capableof a limited vertical movement independently of the others of the series, and they are provided for the purpose of subjecting the cans as they are moved through the machine, to ressure to thereby force the body and top 0 the can together as the solder melts, and to maintain such ressure upon the cans while they arepassm over the cooling section 3-of the table an until they finally leave the machine.

As a pressure applying membersuch as above described might, if allowed to act directly u on the'cans, tend to displace them, I provide a flexible member interposed between the pressure applying member and the cans, whereby the tendency to displace the cans is lessened. .I. have shown suc flexible member as comprising a moving chain madein their transit through the machine.

or the pur ose of minimizin the fric' tion between t e stationary weig ts 22 and the moving links 23, the lower end of each 'weightisprovided with a roller 25; and in order that the weights 22 mayiiot fall too far when no cansare in the machine, said weights are provided with projections 26- idingi member-21 and for enga g the gm ownward movement of thus limiting the 27 and 28 are wheels provided with depressions 29. and 30 for engaging the rods 13 and 24- of the two chains for driving them, and these wheels are geared together the heated plate, and this feature -to by defining the pressure applyin means by gears 31 and 32 so as to cause the chains to move in unison. 33 and 34 are idle wheels for supporting'the other ends-of the chains.

It will be seen that the guiding member 21, weights 22, moving chain 23, and other elements cooperating therewith and constituting the means whereby the cans are pressed against the heated plate in my can soldering machine, are located in a definite relation with respect to the heated plate, which relation is invariable during the operation of the machine. In defining this relation, I refer to the pressure applying means as being stationary, because said means as a whole partakes of no appreciable movement toward or from the heated plate, andof no movementwhatever in a direction transverse to the heated plate. I use this term in order to distinguish my machine from can soldering machines in which a pressure appl ing member functional ly somewhat 'simi ar to that her'ein disclosed moves along with the cans as they move along a heated plate, and from other can soldering machines in whicha pressureap plying member normally out of contact with and located above the cans is moved downward to contact with the cans and press extent a an of the pressure applying means is capab e of a slight movement awa from refer as yielding, although it will ,un erstood that said means as a whole partakes of no e soldered. ,As, however, it would,

appreciable movement with respect -to the heated plate at such times. Thus while inm can soldering machine the pressure a'pplyin means may yield and to that extent parta e of a slight movement away 'from the heated plate, it will be apparent thatthe operation of the machine involves no ronouncedmovement of the essure applylng means as is the case wit x the pressure applying devices employed in the other, types of can soldering-machines above referred to.

It will be obvious that a pluralityof 'machines such as have been "above described may be placed side=by side as-indicated in Figs. 2 and 5; and 'in fact the description hereinbefore occurring is intended to describe one section of such 'a machine rather than a com lete machine as it is actually built and so d. i

Havin thus described my machine and explaine the mode of operation thereof, I M

laim and desired-o secure by Letters Patent:

new;

1' H1 a cansoldering'niachine, a heated plate; a weight located above said plate; and means for moving cans to be soldered across said plate beneath said weight, the relative arrangement of the parts being such that the a weight willexert pressure upon the cans be- 7 therewith.

ing soldered throughout their movement across said plate to orce them into contact:

2. Ina can soldering machine, aheated plate; a series of weights locatedabove said plate; and means for movin cans to he soldered across said plate eneath said weights, the relative arrangement of the parts being such that the weights will maintain a yielding pressure upon the" cans throughout their movement across the plate.

3.111 a can soldering machine, a heated plate; a series of weights located above said plate and free to move vertically; a guiding member for maintaining said wei hts in position;.means for movin cans to esoldered across said plate beneat" said weights and means whereby said weights exert pressure upon said cans throughout their movement across said, plate.

4. Ina can soldering machine, a heated plate; a series of weights located above said plate and capable of limited vertical movement; a guiding member tor maintaining said weights in osit-ion; a flexible member beneath said weights and upon which they rest said member bein'gadapted to contact with the cans throughout their movementacross said heated slate; and means ior'mov ing cans tobe sol cred across said plate beneath and in contact with said flexible member.

5. In a can soldering machine, a heated plate; a series of weights located above said plate and capable of limited vertical move ment; a roller upon the lower end of each of said weights; a guiding meinber for maintaining said weights in position; a movable flexible member beneath said weights and u on which they rest, said member being a apted to contact with the cans throughout their movement across said heated plate; means for movin cans to be soldered across said late beneat and in contact with said fiexib e member; and means for moving said flexible member.

6, In a cap soldering machine, means for heating the cans to be soldered means comprlsing an endless chain for moving the cans to be soldered over the heating means;

a second endless chain located above the first the soldered cens, comprising {an endless chain for inovin the cans to. be soldered over the heating and cooling means; a second endless chain located above the first mentioned chain and adapted to rest upon the cans being soldered throughout their movement over the heating and cooling means; and means for applying pressure to the upper surface of seconrl chain.

8.711! a can solderin machine, a' late comprising heating and coolin sect-ions; means comprising an endlessehaln for moving cans'to be soldered across said plate; a second endlem chain located above saidlfirst" mentioned chain and adapted to rest uponthe cans being soldered throughout their movement across said plate; means for applyin pressure to the upper surface of said secon chain and means for driving said chains in unison.

9; In a can solderin machine, a plate comprising heating and coolin sections; means comprisin an endless chain tor moving cans to be sfidered across said plate; a second endless chain located [above said first mentioned chain and adapted to rest upon *the cans being soldered throughout their movementacross said plate; a series of weights resting upon said second chain; and means for driving said chainsin unison.

l0. a can solderiirgmachine, a plate. comprising heating an cooling 'sectlons;

ing cans to be soldered across said plate; a second endless chain located above said: first *mentioned chain and adapted to rest upon the cans being soldered throughout their weights adapted to exert pressure upon the "upper surface of said second chain; and means'for driving said chains iiiunison,

11. In a can solderin machine, a plate comprising heating one cooling sections; meanscomprising an endless cham for moving cans to be soldered across said plate; a second endlesschain located above said fist *mentioned chain and adapted to rest upon the cans being soldered throughout their movement across said. plate; a guiding member located above said plate; a series of weights resting upon the upper surface of said second chain and maintained in position by said gaiding member; and means for rivin lsaid; chains in unison.

12. n a can soldering machine, a heated plate; grooves formed in the upper surface of said plate and extending longitudinally a and adapted to restrain the'cans against lateral movement and an intermediate memthe pertion'ct' said mterrnediete menu :her extending shove the surftaee oi theplate' movement across said plate; a series ofmeans comprising an endless chain for movthereof; and an endlesscha'in adapted to tee being cut away so that the cans may rest 7 ,across said plate; a flexlble member adapted to rest upon the cans throughout their movement across said plate; and means for applying pressure to said flexible member.

14; In a can soldering machine, means for heating the cans to be soldered; means for moving the cans to be soldered over said heating means; a flexible member adapted to rest upon the cans being soldered throughout their movement over the heating means;

. and means for applying pressure to the flexible member.

15. In a can soldering machine, a heated plate; means comprising an endless chain for moving cans to be soldered across said plate; a second endless chain located above said first mentioned chain and adapted to rest upon the cans being soldered throughout their movement across said plate; means for applying pressure to the upper surface of said second chain; and means for driving said chains in unison.

This specification signed and witnessed this seventhv day of November A. D. 1906.

CHARLES W. SLEEPER.

In the presence of- FRED C. CLEAVELAND, vl3 nuuon A; LYMAN. 

